How do you describe a film that starts off mocking the James Bond title sequences. Deadpool cavorts like a Bond title girl, as title music plays in the background, while irreverent title credits roll. You know that stage is set up for a totally wacky superhero movie and you aren't disappointed.

The film is set roughly two years after the first Deadpool film. Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has really become the merc with the mouth, killing off gangster after gangster globally. He's not just in lust with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) but the duo are moving up a stage, wanting to start a family. It looks like we're going to see a mellower side of the foul-mouthed superhero but fate has another thing in store. He becomes a bitter husk after her accidental death but gets a chance at redemption when he takes up the mission to save young mutant Russell Collins (Julian Dennison) from time travelling mutant Cable (Josh Brolin). How he sets about it leads to many misadventures as well as some kickass action sequences, not to mention oodles of irreverent takes on everything from Avengers, X Men, the DC universe and Reynolds’ own rather tepid career and bad film choices before Deadpool.

He's always been a solo hero but here we get a glimpse of what might happen if Deadpool was part of a superhero team. There are talks of an X Force film being written and directed by Drew Goddard so we might actually see that happening someday. But over here it's more or less a spoof of the team dynamics that we saw in Avengers: Infinity War. Also, we went home with a heavy heart after all those deaths in Infinity War and let's say the parody can't be more timely. The X Force sequences cross every line there is -- be prepared to be surprised. All those unexpected happenings will surely leave you rolling on the floors.

The original director Tim Miller left the sequel due to creative differences with Reynolds. David Leitch, who stepped in, is master of stylised action, having shown his prowess previously in such films as John Wick and Atomic Blonde and brings the feverish energy of his directorial style here as well. Miller kind of developed Deadpool’s action style and Leitch has kind of continued with that, adding his own artistic flourishes. And it's not just Deadpool this time but he also has to create Cable’s and Domino's fighting style as well. While Cable fights more like RoboCop, being a half-man, half-machine, Dynamo’s fighting style depends upon her superpower -- luck. It's here that Leitch is most creative, coming up with different scenarios where a random punch, a random move, kindles the defeat of her opponents. Zazie Beetz who is acting as Domino is shown to be as much of motormouth as Deadpool and holds her own against heavyweights such as Reynolds or Brolin.

The film is not all stylised action and spoofy jokes though. It goes where it was quite unlikely to go and packs a big emotional punch. In its roundabout way, it teaches us about the power of real love, as also the importance of family.

It's hard to follow up on a brilliant film but Ryan Reynolds has done it again, taking risks which a studio might hesitate to take and going beyond the premise of the film in the process. His commitment towards his role is out of this world. He has truly found his calling in Deadpool and made the character his own. He and Josh Brolin enjoy a buddy cop chemistry in the film. Brolin has played his character like a straightforward superhero and his deadpan behaviour is in contrast to Reynolds’ wisecracking Deadpool. It's said that Brolin has signed up for four films in all so we'll surely get to see more of their bromance in future.

Don't be in a hurry to get up and go once the film ends as its end credits sequence outdoes everything you see in Marvel films and is the proverbial cherry on the pie...

Trailer : Deadpool 2

Renuka Vyavahare, May 20, 2018, 9:07 PM IST

Critic's rating4.5/5

Story: Wade Wilson aka Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), the snarky superhero seeks purpose and sense of belonging for a change. He finds it in defending a 14-year-old mutant from the wrath of a powerful man from future – Cable (Josh Brolin). But can the foul-mouthed mercenary who doesn’t wish to elude death, achieve this feat alone?

Review: Does he die? Does he not? Or does he? The Basanti of superheroes is back and must form a team (X-Force) of his own. Since this is an R rated film, we don’t mind saying the following. It takes ba**s to come right after Avengers: Infinity War, one of the biggest superhero movies of all time and sh** on its star power by presenting a film that’s more entertaining, engaging, relatable and immersive (without relying on 3D). Led by a flawed and disfigured superhero, the action-comedy scores without the crutch of big faces or the usual superhero trappings.

Audaciously crafted and cleverly written, Deadpool 2 has the ability to end the Avengers’ reign at the box office. Credit goes to the writers for ensuring that the constant wisecracks, digs at other superheroes or pop culture references, don’t distract a viewer from the story’s emotional core and it’s protagonist’s moral ambiguity.

While the action is brilliantly shot and executed, the comedy smartly doubles up as a social commentary on racism, sexism, body shaming and sexual harassment.

Boasting of some great unsuspecting cameos, the story humanises Deadpool, without letting go of what makes him different — deviant ways, indulgence in gory violence, sarcasm and narcissism. However, what stands out the most are the hilarious opening credits and post-credits scenes, perhaps the best in Marvel movie history.

Ably supported by Lady Luck Domino (Zazie Beetz), Reynolds does for you what the recent superhero orgy did with the help of infinite characters and infinity stones (pun intended). The actor-writer surpasses his own 2016 outing with this smashing sequel that has its heart and humour in the right place.